Danilo Gallinari's debut not half bad

LAS VEGAS - With every foul, turnover and errant jump shot, the Knicks' new regime kept reminding itself that Rome wasn't built in a day.

And if you judged Danilo Gallinari's debut solely on Monday's first half he looked like a lost cause. It wasn't until late in the third quarter when the Italian forward nicknamed "Gallo" (rooster) found his form and began to display the skills worthy of a sixth overall draft pick.

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Gallinari scored all 14 of his points in a 10-minute span of the Knicks' 97-94 win over a Cleveland Cavaliers team whose most experienced player was journeyman guard Billy Thomas. Gallinari's first game in a Knicks uniform was overshadowed by Isiah Thomas' last draft pick, second-year forward Wilson Chandler, who scored 26 points on 11-for-21 shooting.

Chandler, who sprained his knee during last year's season finale, looked sharp and appears ready to compete for more playing time.

Typically, the promising players with at least one year of NBA experience excel in the Vegas Summer League while rookies struggle with the pace and physical nature of the game. Gallinari seems no different. He went scoreless in the first half, missing his first five shots, but converted five of his last six attempts.

Gallinari finished with 14 points, six rebounds, five fouls, four turnovers, one block and two assists while misfiring on all four three-point attempts. He also sat out all but two seconds of the last five minutes due to soreness in his right knee and back.

"It's a different game," Gallinari said. "I was just trying to figure it out."

Stephon Marbury, whose future with the club remains tenuous at best, arrived in the second half and took a seat on the Knicks' bench. The veteran point guard wore gray shorts and white shirt and designer black high-tops and sunglasses. He was also sporting a Starbury tattoo on the left side of his head.

Gallinari was enthused by the show of support but disappointed in his first-half performance. He later said he "felt better" in the second half.

Gallinari's first points came when he knocked down a 15-foot jumper. He later turned an offensive rebound into a dunk and showed off his perimeter skills by using a crossover dribble to beat Cavs rookie J.J. Hickson to the basket. It may take a while for him to do the same to LeBron James.